CANTON, Ohio – The Detroit Lions’ highly anticipated 2025 season got off to a rocky start on Thursday night, as they were routed by the Los Angeles Chargers, 34-7, in a sloppy Hall of Fame Game performance.

 

While both teams rested their key starters, including quarterbacks Jared Goff and Justin Herbert, the Lions’ backups and roster hopefuls struggled to find their footing. The game was effectively decided early, with the Chargers capitalizing on three first-half turnovers to build a commanding lead they never relinquished.

The trouble began on the very first play, with a Lions fumble on the opening kickoff that led to a quick Chargers touchdown. Detroit’s backup quarterbacks, Kyle Allen and Hendon Hooker, both had difficult outings. Allen threw two costly interceptions in the first half, while Hooker struggled with accuracy and also threw a pick late in the game.

The Lions’ sole touchdown came in the second quarter on a 3-yard run by Craig Reynolds, but the Chargers responded immediately to restore their two-touchdown lead before halftime.

On the other side of the ball, Chargers backup quarterback Trey Lance had a strong showing, throwing for two touchdowns and 120 yards across three quarters. He led an efficient, opportunistic offense that consistently took advantage of Detroit’s mistakes.

While the result is ultimately meaningless in the grand scheme of the regular season, the Lions’ turnover-prone and uninspired performance raises questions about the depth of their roster as they look to build on last year’s success. The team will need to clean up its act quickly as they continue their preseason schedule.